Emacs File Encoding FAQ
This page is a tutorial on file and character encoding/decoding in emacs.
If you don't know what's encoding/decoding, see: Unicode Basics: Character Set, Encoding, UTF-8, Codepoint.
Set default encoding system for opening and saving, globally
How to declare a file with a specific encoding
List emacs file encoding systems
Alt+x list-coding-systems
How to open file with specific encoding
Open it normally, then Alt+x revert-buffer-with-coding-system, then type a coding system. Press Tab to list possible ones.
How to set a encoding system for saving current file
Alt+x set-buffer-file-coding-system, then type the encoding system you want. Press Tab to see a list of possible values.
After you set a encoding system, save the file and it'll be saved in the new encoding system.
What is the encoding system used for current file
Check the value of the buffer local variable buffer-file-coding-system. [see Emacs: Show Variable Value, List Variables]
Set Encoding for Terminal output
This is important especially on Microsoft Windows. If you don't set this to utf-8, you may have problems with Python output of Unicode string.
Alt+x set-terminal-coding-system
put this in your Emacs Init File:
(set-terminal-coding-system 'utf-8-unix)
Set Encoding for Keyboard Input
Alt+x set-keyboard-coding-system
put this in your Emacs Init File:
(set-keyboard-coding-system 'utf-8-unix)
View Current Coding System Config
Alt+xdescribe-current-coding-system
View Emacs Doc of a Specific Coding System
Alt+x describe-coding-system
Emacs and Unicode
- Unicode Tutorial
- describe-char, Find a Character Unicode Name, Codepoint, Encoding, Font Used
- Best Unicode Fonts for Programer
- Update Unicode Data
